An off-duty paramedic was able to pull the boy from the water and began CPR on him at the poolside, before he regained consciousness and was taken to the first aid room.

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He then spent two days in hospital where he was required to have ‘high levels of oxygen’ before being discharged.

The father initially told police and his partner that he had ‘just popped to the toilet’ but CCTV showed the child was left alone for ‘a number of minutes’ and the father eventually told the truth about what happened.

Describing the moment the swimmer spotted the boy’s body, the prosecution said: ‘She immediately got him out of the water and he was put on the side.

Judge David Ticehurst handed the dad an 18-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay costs of £250, with a £20 surcharge at Taunton Crown Court (Picture: Google)

‘She said: ‘Come quickly, there’s a dead little boy and no one was helping him.”

The father’s defending solicitor argued that despite the incident, his client was a ‘great, loving and caring’ parent and he ‘expressed genuine remorse’.

The court heard that the boy was reluctant to swim again and the experience caused the father’s partner to suffer from anxiety.

Judge David Ticehurst handed the dad an 18-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay costs of £250, with a £20 surcharge.

The dad was also told to pay £200 to the two swimmers for ‘public recognition’ after saving his son’s life.

Before issuing sentence, the judge said: ‘This must have been any parent’s nightmare. What was wrong as you know is you went on a momentary whim to frolick. If only you hadn’t done that, you wouldn’t be here.’